"Alcoa is conducting a review of a portion of its rod mill business ... to determine the best strategic options for the company, including a possible divestiture," she said.

Operations should continue as normal during the review, she said, noting that both rod mills are located close to associated smelters.

The Bécancour rod mill, near the St. Lawrence River, opened in 1992 and cost $49 million to build, according to the Pittsburgh-based aluminum producers website. The facility makes pure aluminum or aluminum alloy rod for the electric cable sector, magnetic wire manufacturers and steel mills.

The Bécancour rod plant sources molten metal from Alcoas majority-owned Aluminerie de Bécancour Inc., sports a fully automated rolling mill and continuous casting capability, and is capable of making 12.5 tonnes of rod per hour.

Further details about the Fjardaál rod mill werent immediately available.

News of the possible divestiture of the rod mills followed Alcoas confirmation to AMM Sept. 25 that it was mulling sales of two rolling mills in Spain and one in France as part of a strategic review (amm.com, Sept. 25).